GREENVILLE — East Carolina halted a 4-game losing streak with a 79-67 nonconference win over Campbell in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Saturday.
Jayden Gardner had 22 points and four assists for the Pirates (3-7). Freshman Brandon Suggs had 16 points and nine rebounds as ECU came off an 11-day break for exams.
The Pirates got 12 points from J.J. Miles. Freshman Tristen Newton contributed 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
ECU broke a tie at 4 with a jumper in the paint from Suggs with 16:18 left in the first quarter to start an 11-0 run that established a working margin that the Pirates were able to maintain the rest of the way.
“The guys did a good job of getting some stops and maybe getting some defensive confidence,” said ECU coach Joe Dooley. “We did a nice job of eliminating some of the back cuts and easy baskets in the paint.”
Ja’Cor Nelson, who was averaging 9.1 points for the Camels, played 11 minutes before going out with an ankle injury. He was scoreless. Cedric Henderson Jr. had 18 points, six rebounds and blocked three shots to lead Campbell (6-3).
The visitors got 11 points each from Milos Stajcic, Jordan Whitfield and Austin McCullough.
The Pirates made all 14 of their free throws in the first half and led 38-30 at the break. ECU finished 26 of 29 on foul shots, 89.7 percent.
“We did a nice job of getting to the line that may times,” Dooley said.
The Pirates coach was not happy about his team’s inability to take care of the basketball at times.
“Nineteen turnovers against soft pressure won’t cut it,” Dooley said.
Tyrie Jackson had seven points for ECU. Tremont Robinson-White netted six points, Charles Coleman had three points and Bitumba Baruti added two.
The Pirates led 35-28 in rebounding and had a decisive lead in fast-break points, 28-7.
ECU hosts Maryland Eastern Shore (1-10) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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